Strike could leave MEPs stranded

French air-traffic controllers will take industrial action tomorrow (10 October), which could leave MEPs and European Commissioners stranded in Strasbourg.

Air Traffic Controllers European Unions Coordination (ATCEUC), an umbrella group of air European air-traffic unions, had called for a 10 October strike last month in protest against the European Commission’s plans to crack down on implementation of the Single European Sky, which would combine Europe’s national airspaces into nine blocs.

However, last week ATCEUC called off the strike after being given assurances by the Commission that its views will be taken into account and that there is a willingness to amend the proposal.

“The Commission representative has declared that SES2+ [as the Single European Sky project is known] will be ‘seriously amended’,” the group said in a statement. “ATCEUC has decided to give a new opportunity for dialogue.” Transport ministers will discussing the at a meeting tomorrow in Luxembourg.

However, the French air-traffic controllers have ignored ATCEUC’s instructions and plan to strike tomorrow anyway.

In a statement, a coalition of airspace associations, including the Association of European Airlines and the European Business Aviation Association, condemned the French strike. “We welcome the decision made by the European trade unions to cancel the strike and enter into discussions with the European Commission,” they said. “We urge the French air-traffic controllers to stop this unnecessary action and engage in the negotiations.”

“There can be no justification for European air travellers being grounded,” they added. “The strike is unacceptable.”